Method of forming telephone pay station boxes



Nov. 22,1932. G. A. LONG 1,888,956

METHOD OF FORMING TELEPHONE PAY STATION BOXES Filed June 10. 1931Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. LONG, 01'HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAY TELEPHONE PAY STATIONCOMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A' CORPORATION OF CON- NECTIGUTApplication filed June 10, 1931.

M invention relates to the class of devices emp oyed for collectingtolls for the use of telephone instruments, and an obJect of myinvention, among others, is to provide a box employed for this purposewhich shall be composed of a single piece of sheet metal.

My improved process in the practice of which the objects herein set out,as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1is a view of a sheet metal blank from whichmy improved pay station box is formed.

Figure 2 is a view of said blank after a preliminary step in theprocess.

Figure 3 1s a view illustrating the formation of the blank shown inFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a view illustrating the shape of the box after an advancedstep in the process.

Figure 5 is an end view of the box shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 illustrates the step of forming the box to the shape shown inFigure 4.

Figure 7 illustrates the shape of the box at a still further advancedstep in the process.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 illustrate steps in the method of producing the boxshown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 shows the shape of the box after 'a still further advancedstep in the process.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the method of shaping the box to the formshown in Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a view showing the shape of the box in a still furtheradvanced step in the process.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate the method of producing the box of theshape shown in Fig-.

' ing the blank.13 shown in Figure 2. In this ure 14.

Figure'l'? is a perspective view of the comtwo-thirds of the box.Applicant has for a long time desired to make these boxes of a singlepiece of metal, and to this end many wellknown concerns of high reputein the mak- Serial N0. 543,275.

ing of dies and the formation of structures of all sorts from sheetmetal have been requested to make the boxes in-this manner. Manyattempts have been made by such concerns to produce such boxes, but allsuch attempts have invariably proved unsuccessful. After the failure ofthese various attempts, and after applicant had been informed by all ofsuch manufacturers. that such a box could not be produced, he set out inan attempt to produce the structure. It was not, however, until afterrepeated trials resulting'time and time again in failure, and after muchperseverance, that applicants attempts were successful. a

The process which applicant finally developed for the production ofthese one-piece boxes consists in forming at a'preliminary step in theprocess a cup 11 on a flat sheet 10 of metal and before any attempt toimpart a this cup may consume a number of steps, but I have shown onlyone and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing wherein the cup issubstantially of its final form, the final operation as to this cupbeing performed simply to step in the process not only are the cornersreduced and rounded, but the opposite side edges of the blank aretapered from a wider dimension to a narrower dimension at the end 12.The blank at th s step in the process is also provided with toothedprojections 14 on that edge opposite the tapered end, and as shown inFigure 2, these toothed projections being an aid in the proper formationof the corners ofthe box at the bottom and open end thereof. At thisstep in the formation of the 139 box shape to the sheet. The formationof recess as shown in Figure 6. In this step in the process the blankisgiven a box formation but open on one side and the bottom, and'the cup11 now has an important function in that it retains the blank accuratelypositioned between the dies and prevents any\ crawling or creeping ofthe blank which crawling or creeping, if not restrained, would preventan accurate formation of the blank. The blank 21' now appears wlth thetop 22 closed and having a sloping front portion 23 and with sides 24:and an open bottom. A. 'rib 25 begins to appear around the bottom edge.

In another and subsequent step in the process, and as illustratedinFigures 7, 8, 9, and 10 the dies 26 and 27 are formed to more clearlydefine the general shape of the box to more closely approach its finalform, the cup 11 in these operations performing its function of securelyretaining the blank in position to resist distortion of said blank.

In the operation illustrated by Figures 11, 12 and 13 the dies 28 and 29operate upon the cup to correct its form and in the step illustrated inFigures 14, 15 and 16 the dies 30 and 31 operate upon the whole boxstructure to bring it more nearly to its final and correct shape, and asshown in Figure 17 wherein the completed structure is shown having thesides 24:, the top 22 with its sloping forward portion 23 and the rib 25extending around the two opposite sides and front, the bottom beingopen. The front 32 of the box has the cup 11- as hereinbefore describedprojecting inwardly within the box. near the top thereof. 7 I

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes T havedescribed the principles of operation of my invention, together with thedevice which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention may be carried out by other meansand applied to uses other than those above set :1- out.

I claim:

1. The process for forming an open back and bottomless box-that consistsin shaping a flat blank with a tapered and rounded end to compose thetop of the box, then stamping the blank to box form with an open backand bottom and before such forming creating a cup shaped projection inthe blank to closely engage said cup shaped portion with a die member tobe held from lateral movement reeaete thereby-during said stampingoperation, and subsequently, by a succession of operations, graduallyperfecting the shape of the box and difierent portions thereon.

2. The process for forming an open back and bottomless box thatconsists'in shaping a flat blank with a tapered and rounded .end tocompose the top of the box, then stamping the blank to box form with anopen back and bottom, and before such forming creating a cup shapedprojection in that part of the blank to compose the front of the box toclosely engage said cup shaped portion with a die member to be held fromlateral move ment thereby during said stamping o eration, shaping thetop with a slopin ront, and subsequently by a succession 0 operatbions,gradually perfecting the shape of the 3. The process for forming an'openback and bottomless box that consists in shaping a flat blank with atapered and rounded end to compose the top of the box and the bottomedge with tooth shaped projections for formation of the corners betweenthe sides and front of the box at the bottom thereof, then stamping theblank to box form with an open back and bottom, and before such formingcreating a cup shaped projection in the blank to closely engage said cupshaped portion with a die member to be held from lateral movementthereby during said stamping operation, and subsequently, bya'succession of operations, gradually perfecting the shape of the boxand different portions thereon.

4. The process for forming an open back and bottomless box that consistsin shaping a.

flat blank with a cup shaped projection thereon, then placing the blankwith the cup shaped portion closely engaged with and held by a diemember, then stamping the blank to box form with an open back and.bottom and creating a rib around the bottom edge, and then by asuccession of operations, gradually perfecting the shape of the blank toform the box and different portions thereof.

5. The process for forming an open back and bottomless box that consistsin shaping a flat blank with a tapered and rounded end to compose thetop of the box, then stamping the blank to box form with an open backand bottom, and before such forming creating a cup shaped projection inthe blank which is closely engaged with a die member to hold it fromlateral movement during said stamping, then forminga rib around thebottom edge of-the structure, and then, by a succession of operations,gradually finally perfecting the shape of the box' and the differentportions thereon.

GEORGE A. LONG.

